A26892:2576
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Part 1 › Chapter 7 › Tit. 5. Directions against sinful Hopes.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Tit. 5. Directions against sinful Hopes.
HOPE is nothing but a Desirous expectation: Therefore the Directions given before against sinful1 Love and Desire may suffice also against sinful Hopes, save only for the expecting part. Hope is sinful, 1. When it is placed ultimately upon a forbidden object; as to Hope for some evil to your selves which you mistakingly think is good: To hope for felicity in the creature, or to hope for more from it, than it can afford you? To hope for the hurt of other men, for the ruin of your enemies; for the hindrance of the Gospel, and injury to the Church of Christ. 2. When you hope for a Good thing by evil means; as to Hope to please God, or to come to Heaven by persecuting his servants, or by ignorance or superstition, or schism, or Heresy or any sin. 3. To Hope ungroundedly for that from God, which he never promised. 4. To Hope deceitfully for that from God which he hath declared he will never give. All these are sinful Hopes: But it is not these last that I shall here say much to, because▪ I have said so much already of them in many other writings.
HOPE is nothing but a Desirous expectation: Therefore the Directions given before against sinful1 Love and Desire may suffice also against sinful Hopes, save only for the expecting part. Hope is sinful, 1. When it is placed ultimately upon a forbidden object; as to Hope for some evil to your selves which you mistakingly think is good: To hope for felicity in the creature, or to hope for more from it, than it can afford you? To hope for the hurt of other men, for the ruine of your enemies; for the hindrance of the Gospel, and injury to the Church of Christ. 2. When you hope for a Good thing by evil means; as to Hope to please God, or to come to Heaven by persecuting his servants, or by ignorance or superstition, or schism, or Heresie or any sin. 3. To Hope ungroundedly for that from God, which he never promised. 4. To Hope deceitfully for that from God which he hath declared he will never give. All these are sinful Hopes: But it is not these last that I shall here say much to, because I have said so much already of them in many other writings.